United States' Brewster F2A Buffalo fighter

Photos

Design

The Brewster F2A Buffalo was the first monoplane fighter to be used by the United States Navy.

The design of the XF2A-1 started in early 1936.

Prototype

The XF2A-1 prototype first flew in December 1937. In June 1938 a contract was signed to build 54 F2A Buffalo.

Production

• Brewster XF2A-1: 1
• Brewster F2A-1: 11
• Brewster F2A-2: 43
• Brewster F2A-3: 108
• Brewster B-239: 44
• Brewster B-339: 282
• Brewster B-439: 20
• Total: 507, 509
  • Manufacturer: Brewster Aeronautical Corporation
  • Production: 1938 - March 1942

Variants

• Brewster XF2A-1: Prototype.
• Brewster F2A-1: Production. Powered by Wright R-1820-34 radials (940 HP). First entered service in June 1939.
• Brewster F2A-2: Had new vertical tail surfaces. Better engine.
• Brewster F2A-3: Longer nose and additional armor protection.
• Brewster B-239: Land based export version to Finland.
• Brewster B-339: Had Wright GR-1820 Cyclone engines (1,100 HP). There were larger fuel tanks and increased armor.
• Brewster B-339B: Land based export version of the F2A-1 to Belgium.
• Brewster B-339D: Land based export version to F2A-1 Netherlands.
• Brewster B-339E / Brewster Buffalo Mk I: Land based export version to the United Kingdom.
• Brewster B-439: Export version of the F2A-3.

Usage

The countries that used the F2A were Australia, Belgium (40), Britain (170), Finland, Netherlands East Indies (72), New Zealand, and United States.

The VF-3 received the first eleven F2A Buffalos in June 1940 on the USS Saratoga.

Withdrawn

After being operational for a few months the Buffalo was withdrawn from service and replaced by F4F Wildcats.

Midway

The United States Marine Corps used F2As in the VMF-221 at Midway in 1942. 13 of the 19 available were shot down.

Finland

Finland ordered 44 B-239s.

They were used with success against the Soviets from 1941 to 1944.

Belgium

Belgium ordered 40 B-339Bs. 38 of these were diverted to the United Kingdom.

Netherlands

The Dutch ordered 72 B-339Ds.

The Dutch East Indies was to receive 20 B-439s but these were delivered to the United States Air Corp. 17 of these were sent to Australia.

United Kingdom

The United Kingdom received 38 of the B-339Bs that were intended for the Belgians. They also received 170 B-339Es that were designated the Buffalo Mk I. Most of the Buffalos served with the Royal Air Force (RAF) and only a few served with the Royal Navy.